A second batch of more than 4,400 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Saturday in a secured convoy on a pilgrimage to the 3,888-meter-high Amarnath cave shrine.
The 62-day-long pilgrimage commenced from Kashmir on Saturday
It has been reported that the pilgrims left the base camp in the morning in a cavalcade of 188 vehicles.
According to the officials, now the total number pilgrims who left for the Amarnath cave shrine from the Jammu base camp stands at 7,904.
On Friday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp.
Advertisement
About the yatra
Baltal, in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, is one of the twin routes for the annual pilgrimage. The other one is the Pahalgam route in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The pilgrims will undertake a 12-km journey from the base camp to the holy cave shrine located at an altitude of about 13,000 feet.
So far, more than 3.5 lakh people have registered themselves online for the yatra.
The pilgrimage will culminate on August 31.
Security measures for the yatra
In a bid to ensure maximum protection for the pilgrims, a multi-tier security setup has been activated in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp.
Advertisement
As per media reports, thirty-three accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to the pilgrims.
Five counters have been set up for the registration of pilgrims who intend to undertake the yatra.
All arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, including those related to security, have been put in place.
Deputy Commissioner Shyambir said about 6,000 yatris arrived at the base camp.
"I wish the yatra goes on smoothly. I request the yatris to carry their RFID cards," he told reporters here.
Security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage. Security along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes has been beefed up. New security pickets have been set up, officials said.
